Installed suction cleaner system



Jan. 19, 1965 c. E. s'rEvENs 3,166,393

INSTALLED sUcTIoN CLEANER SYSTEM Filed Sept. 15, 1958 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 building wall and opening United States Patent ee 3,156,393 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 This invention relates to suction cleaning apparatus and more particularly to an improved suction cleaning apparatus adapted to be permanently installed in buildings generally and more particularly in dwellings.

Installed suction cleaner systems have been proposed heretofore, but have fallen into disfavor with users owing to their many shortcomings. In general, installed systems for household use have been so costly as not to be competitive with portable type cleaners. Furthermore, installed systems, as heretofore designed, have beenbulky, lacking in adequate suction as well as in certain conveniences and liexibility of use.

By the present invention there is provided van improved inexpensive installed type cleaner system obviating the shortcomings of prior systems and so compact as to be installable in space not particularly suitable for other purp oses, as for example, the upper portions of a closet or in the power unit readily is accessible independently of the other. Additionally, the location of the power unit externally of the main casing isolates the moving parts .of

this unit from the dirtyatmosphere existing inside the:

filter casing leaving the interior of the 'latte-r unobstructed and fully available for filtering purposes. features of the assembly is the use of a closure for the access opening to the filter chamber which serves not only to clamp the filter bags in place but includes a dirty air duct coupling forming a readily separable junction with` Amongthe unitary suction cleaning apparatus adapted to be arily supported on a building wall. g

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a fragmentaryschematic view of a portion of a dwelling showing the unitary suction cleaner apparatus of this invention installed in a Vcloset thereof and connected through suction ducts to outlets in the different rooms;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of stationthe suction cleaner apparatus proper;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the dirtyV air inlet coupling taken along line 3 3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary `view on enlarged scale, i

f enlarged scale of the'supporting bracket assembly; and

the installed suction duct system; This separable coupling also features a normally closed inlet adapted to seat la flexible suction hose found convenient in cleaning the area local to the cleaning apparatus.

Another feature of the design is the use of `a hollow bracket interconnecting the motor power unit and the filter housing and serving additionally to support the power unit and yto enclosea final filter for theV clean air flowing to the suction fan chamber. Secured to the outlet of the discharge side of the fan chamber is an air diuser unit p FIGURE 7 is a perspectiveview of one component of 44the bracket.

a filter casing 11 anda motor .driven suction unit 12, the filter chamber `being in communication `with the different rooms to be' cleanedfbymeans of a built-in suction duct system 13: having normally'closed outlets 14, 14 opening into each room to be cleaned. ,It will be understood ing or the like to the exterior side wall 17 'of the filter pl casing. Secured to the parallel short legs IS-of bracket featuring a normally closed discharge outlet towhiclra flexible hose clan be connected in a manner to bypass the diffuser and direct pressurized air to a point of-use, as for example, to clean by blowing or to `supply pressurized air to operate a paint sprayer andthe like auxiliaries.`

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved installed suction cleaner lsystem foruse in buildings and'dwellings. l

Another object of the'invention is to provide anfinstalled type suction cleaner unit having a main filter casing to the exterior of which ,is secured appower driven `suction unit and wherein said filter and suctionunit are independently accessible for servicing. i

l Another object of the invention is the provision of a 16, 'as` by threaded fasteners 19, are'V mounting tabs 20, 20 having notches 21 opening upwardly from their lower edges, theseopenings being vformed in part by a tang 22 having the configuration shown in' FIGURE 6.' `Tangs 22 are integral with one vertical edgeofopening 21 and,

prior to assembly of the bracket parts, are bent outwith holes forgscrews 25 by which the brackets can be vsecured to studding or to some other part ofa building Wall. 'The other leg of brackets 24 carries'aphorizontally disposed rigid member, such as rods 26, held asseml,- bled to brackets 24 as by cotter pins 27, rod 26 having a length appreciably greater than the distance between tabs unitarysuction cleaner assemblyredapted to be permanently assembled on the Wall of a building and to have its inlet opening connected to suction ducts mounted in the into the various rooms to be cleaned. v t

v q Another object of the invention is the provision ofimf i provedsuspension bracket means in combination with a 20. Accordingly, it will beunderstood that the suction cleaning unit 10 can be easily and permanently suspended from the rigidly supported rod 26 by lowering openings 21 of tabs 20 overithe opposite ends of rods 26. Thereafter,tangs 22 are bent to lie in the plane of tabs 20 'thereby closing the outer ends of openings 21 and locking thecleaner in its suspended position. `It will be recognized that the unit can thereafter be removed from the wall only with diti'iculty.: This discourages demounting This. apparatus includes as principal componentsl screws 49.

Referring now more particularly vto FIGURES 3, 4

. and 5, it will be seen that thecleaner unit proper includes an open topped filter housing 1l having an inturned annular ledge 3i) at-its upper rim shaped to center and support thereon inner filter bag 3l. This bag is provided at its open top with avgasketed supporting ring 32 held assembled to the bag by a clamping hoop 33. Filter 31 is preferably formed of suitable air perviousA fabric and is soidimensionedras to leave a narrow annular air fiow passage 34 between its side and bottom walls and the interior walls of casing 11. Desirably there isprovided an inexpensive throw-away paper filter bag 35 provided atiits upper end withA a mounting ring 3o of cardboard or the like adapted to rest against ring 32 of cloth lter 3l.

A removable sheet ,metal cover 38 having a downturned rim `39 is adapted to nest loosely over and close ythe access opening of the lter chamber. lThis closure may beheld tightly compressed against filter mounting f rings 32 and 36 in any suitable manner, as by a pair of toggle clamps '4040 mounted on diametrically opposed Y opening vertically in Vclosely'spaced relation: to lthe e flanged rim 3@ of closure 38. Fixed tov the exterior of closure 38 is an L-shaped coupling duct 46 having its downturnedouter end 47 positioned to register Ywith and telescope over elbow outlet 4S. The other or outlet fend 48er coupling 46 opens downwardlyinto the .inner lter bag 35, and is rigidly secured to closure 38 as by ductsystem 13 communicates with the interiorrof the filter housing through the removablefclosure 38, and

attached coupling 46, the gaskets provided betweenV the Y filter bag andthe interior lrim ,of closure 38 forming an Y airtight seal between-the-filter housing and the duct sysopensdownwardlyinto a hollow bracket 56 rigidly `secured to side Wall 1 7 off the filter unit andopeningthereinto through `aV passage 57.VV The mounting screws 5S holding hollow bracket S6 to the casing also serve to mount a -U-shaped spacer clip 59 against theinterior side 62 in sealing contact with the adjacent edges of-bracket l 56. VAny suitable' means, such as a clip 613, may be ernployedto hold closure plate oldetachablzy assembled to the end of bracket 5o. Frictionally supported within'a l cupped shell 64 secured to closure' plate 61 is a final filter As hereshown, filter 65 comprises a tubular member From thevr foregoing vit will be clearV that the suctionV y fan encased with housingffi. The inlet eye of this fan wall of the filter housing and serve to' prevent filter bag 3l f 'from being sucked across opening 57 to blockthe flow of` Nair.' Bracket Sohas its outer end opposite inlet lopening 57 normally closedfby a plate ol provided with a gasket mally closed by end cap 72 hinged to tube 71 by hingeY 73. If the user should wish ,to use pressurized air discharging from opening o8 to clean by blowing, or to operate a paint sprayer or thelike auxiliary device using pressurized air, itis merely necessary to open cap 72 and inserttlie end of a flexible Ahose through tube 71 and into outlet o8. All air fiow then takes place through the flexible hose to the point of use.

If it is desired to clean the closet or the local area adjacent the cleaner apparatus, the user may insert a suction cleaning hose into the tubular fitting 75 provided at the end of the inlet coupling 46, care first being taken to open gasketed closure cap 76 normally closing the outer end of tube 75. hinge 77.

While the installed suction cleaner system herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is .merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that Vno limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shownother than as dened in the appended claims. f

I claim:v

l. A permanently installed type suction cleaner coinprising a main outer casing with means for securing the Desirably cap 75 is pivoted to duct 4o by a l same to a building Wall andvhaving a removable cover for an access opening thereinto, said opening havinga seating ledge, an air pervious filteringmeans seated on said ledge, said cover having tubular air duct means secured thereto and opening at one end into said filtering meansV `bly detachably supported as a unit on the exterior of said casing independently of said cover and having an air inlet opening into said casing ,on the exterior sideY of said air filtering means, a hollow bracketfixedly secured to the exterior sidewall of said casing for supporting said motor driven air suction unit andliaving an outlet opening into said suction unit, final filter means in said hollow bracket, v said hollow bracket having an inlet opening through the cleaning hose, andV means normally closing saidinlet opening in'anrairtight manner.

'73.V In an installed type suction cleaner` system'having a casing adapted to be lixedly supported ona building Wall andhousing dirt and.` air separator means communicating A through duct lines installedeinzthe building walls with difofscreening covered yvv'th flocking -torprovide finepassages p Y through whichthefairiiows ori its way to the fany inlet. j

Any remaining smallparticles'of dust which may have are thereby prevented from escaping from the cleaner. i

The clean air' discharging from multiple stage fan 54 having louvered air outlets ldistributed about its annul `lar sidewall aridthrough which the air is dispersed Vto the Vcloset* space or Vother area in vwhichlthe cleaner is locat'ed A short tube 71, in axial :registry'with outlet `ottis nor# f escaped through .lterslj 35 collect on the docking and .ferent rooms 'to be cleaned b y-a suction'air stream; that improvement which comprises a hollow bracket securedto the exteriorrof said casing sidewall, a unitary motor fan through said hollow bracket, said motor fan assembly having an'air diffuser unitmounted Vover the air discharge portion thereof andjsaid diffuser unit including means for connectingra hose theretoy in a man ner'directing.` all discharging air flow through said hoseV for use as desired.

4. An installed type suction cleaning system for dwell-V ings andthe like, said system comprising a'fixedly installed suction duct system concealed within'the walls of the'dwelling andextending `to different rooms' to be'. cleaned, a unitary suction and filtering assembly fixedlyV supported and connected vto one'` end of said duct system,

said assembly including a filter housing and a motor driven suction unit mounted on the exterior side wall of said filter housing and in communication with the interior of the latter through tubular bracket means interconnecting said housing and suction unit, and bracket means ixed to said filter housing for supporting said unitary suction and iltering assembly detachably from the dwelling wall, said power driven suction unit including an air diffuser connected to the air discharge portion of said unit, and said air diuser including means for detachably connecting thereto a hose for conveying to a point of use pressurized clean air discharging from said unit.

5. An installed type suction cleaning system as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said filter housing has a normally closed filter access opening thereto and posi- 15 tioned to one side o' said motor driven suction unit whereby said filter housing and said motor driven suction unit are each accessible for servicing independently of one another.

6. An installed type suction cleaning system as defined 20 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,003,844 9/11 Winans 55-472 1,053,156 2/ 13 Campbell et al. 5547O 1,678,932 7/28 Buhler 55-467 2,740,494 4/56 Buda 55-372 2,759,659 8/56 Hansen.

2,810,028 10/57 Hopper ZOO-61.6 2,865,465 12/58 Lachowicz 55-373 FOREIGN PATENTS 411,253 6/ 34 Great Britain. 559,936 3/44 Great Britain.

265,123 2/ 5 0 Switzerland.

OTHER REFERENCES HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

WALTER BERLOWITZ, HERBERT L. MARTN, WESLEY S. COLE, SIDNEY JAMES, Examiners. 

1. A PERMANENTLY INSTALLED TYPE SUCTION CLEANER COMPRISING A MAIN OUTER CASING WITH MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME TO A BUILDING WALL AND HAVING A REMOVABLE COVER FOR AN ACCESS OPENING THEREINTO, SAID OPENING HAVING A SEATING LEDGE, AN AIR PERVIOUS FILTERING MEANS SEATED ON SAID LEDGE, SAID COVER HAVING TUBULAR AIR DUCT MEANS SECURED THERETO AND OPENING AT ONE END INTO SAID FILTER MEANS AND THE OTHER END OF SAID DUCT MEANS BEING SHAPED TO OPEN INTO AND FORM AN AIRTIGHT SEAL WITH SUCTION AIR PASSAGE MEANS EXTERIORLY OF SAID CASING AND LEADING THROUGH DUCTING INSTALLED IN THE WALLS OF A DWELLING TO REMOTE AREAS OF A DWELLING TO BE CLEANED, A MOTOR DRIVEN AIR SUCTION ASSEMBLY DETACHABLY SUPPORTED AS A UNIT ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CASING INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID COVER AND HAVING AN AIR INLET OPENING INTO SAID CASING ON THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF SAID AIR FILTERING MEANS, A HOLLOW BRACKET FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE EXTERIOR SIDE WALL OF SAID CASING FOR SUPPORTING SAID MOTOR DRIVEN AIR SUCTION UNIT AND HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING INTO SAID SUCTION UNIT, FINAL FILTER MEANS IN SAID HOLLOW BRACKET, SAID HOLLOW BRACKET HAVING AN INLET OPENING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID CASING AND INTO THE INLET END OF SAID AIR SUCTION UNIT, SAID HOLLOW BRACKET HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED ACCESS OPENING THROUGH THE WALL THEREOF LOCATED BETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET OPENINGS, AND A CLOSURE FOR SAID ACCESS OPENING INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING SAID FINAL FILTER MEANS. 